Page 1 of 10
European Journal of Business &
Social Sciences
Available at https://ejbss.org/
ISSN: 2235-767X
Volume 07 Issue 05
May 2019
Available online: https://ejbss.org/ P a g e | 1486
Women Entrepreneurs: Facing the obstacles to start their own
entrepreneurship
* Deepti Sagar, ** Indira Bishnoi
* Research Scholar, ** Professor
Department of Home Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
E-mail: deepti.sagar2@bhu.ac.in
ABSTRACT
In India, women have worshiped from the ancient period and to date, it is the same. In
the past women were giving their best in the fields (agriculture) though they are still indulging
in the agricultural field, but now women are breaking the ceiling by establishing an
entrepreneurship of their own. The global evidence states that women have been performing
exceedingly well in different spheres of activities like academics, politics, administration,
social work and so on. Women are leaving the work force to stay at home, not as a housewife,
but as an entrepreneur. Most women are entering into the entrepreneurship in all forms. The
determination to pursue entrepreneurship is due to the passion and certain compulsions.
Entrepreneurs play an important role in the economic development of a nation. It is quite
common among Indian families that women have to raise more responsibilities so as to bring
up the children and keep them with love and affection. This aspect of being the nucleus of
women's family is being told by the western people as they do not have such a family
confirmation. Women enhancing their skills, knowledge, talents, abilities, and desire to do
something for themselves and their children or family are some of the reasons for the women
to become entrepreneurs. Here paper focuses on entrepreneurial problems faced by women
entrepreneurs of Varanasi.
INTRODUCTION
Entrepreneurship is a purposeful activity indulged in initiating and maintaining
economic activities for the production and distribution of wealth. Women entrepreneurs are those
Page 2 of 10
European Journal of Business &
Social Sciences
Available at https://ejbss.org/
ISSN: 2235-767X
Volume 07 Issue 05
May 2019
Available online: https://ejbss.org/ P a g e | 1487
women who think about starting an enterprise, start it, compile and combine factors of
production, and take risks related to it and handle economic uncertainty. Women are the most
preponderant segment of the society. A woman, who runs an enterprise to earn money for the
family or for her, is an entrepreneur. In order to improve the status and position of women at
home and in the society at large, must to achieve economic independence for women. Economic
independence makes women conscious of their rights. Working outside home and coming into
contact with other people have broaded their outlook and mental horizon.
Global Entrepreneurship Monitor defined entrepreneurship as the creation of a new
enterprise or might attempt to do it, expansion of already running one, new business
organization, or established an enterprise (GEM 2001). About 126 million women entrepreneurs
are operating their enterprise globally, whereas about 8 million women are running their
entrepreneurship in India, out of 8 million, 2.76 million women constituting in the agricultural
field and 5.29 million of women entrepreneurs in the non-agricultural sector.
In India women earn 25% less than men. 10% of formal enterprises in India are run by
women. This is due to better access to education, increased social acceptance of women
entrepreneurs, improved infrastructure and ease of availability of finance. 58% of women
entrepreneurs started off their entrepreneurship between 20 and 30 years of age. These
enterprises are largely spread across professional services, apparels, food & beverages and
manufacturing of products. It is also anticipated that business owners owned by women
entrepreneurs in India will increase by 90% in the next five years in comparison to 50% for
similar businesses in America and 24% in the United Kingdom. These business leaders will play
an important role in influencing women to educate women in India and will be empowered to
invest regularly in order to secure their future by purchasing regular insurance.
Problems of Women Entrepreneurs in India
Fund
Page 3 of 10
European Journal of Business &
Social Sciences
Available at https://ejbss.org/
ISSN: 2235-767X
Volume 07 Issue 05
May 2019
Available online: https://ejbss.org/ P a g e | 1488
One of the key challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in the field of study was to raise
funds for the beginning of their enterprise. The savings they have, often insufficient to start the
venture. In this way they start increasing dependence on private money lenders in villages, banks
and on relatives. According to a study conducted by Fidelity Investment that 8 out of 10 Indian
women don’t discuss finance with even those who are close to them.
Family
Indian women give importance to family ties and relationships. Married women have to
make a good balance between entrepreneurship and home. Moreover the business success
depends on the support of the family members extended to women in the entrepreneurship
process and management. The interest of the family members is a determinant factor in the
realization of women folks entrepreneurship aspiration. And even though they are in control of
an enterprise, they often rely on family men in their work area.
Male-Female competition
The competition with the male is another factor, which create hurdles to women
entrepreneurs in the entrepreneurship management process. Women entrepreneurs are good in
keeping their service in time, but due to lack of entrepreneurial skills compared to male
entrepreneurs, women entrepreneurs have to face constraints from other competitors in the
market.
Low entrepreneurial skills
“Many women entrepreneurs lack entrepreneurial inputs like marketing, management,
business planning, administration, finance, etc. this makes them: weaker entrepreneurs”. The
success of any enterprise depends upon the survival of the product in the competitive market.
They get emotionally involved in tackling problems. Most of women entrepreneurs face
problems related to managing the enterprise, particularly when they deal with the employees in
the enterprise. No specific support system is available to develop the skills, abilities and
competencies of women entrepreneurs.
